Infertility is what it means.

Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
Updated on January 24, 2025
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I think it's important to first clarify the definition of infertility, which is defined as couples living together for over two years with regular sexual activity, not using contraception, and not conceiving. Those who have never conceived without contraception after marriage are defined as primary infertility, while those who have been pregnant before and then, without using contraception, have not conceived again for two years are defined as secondary infertility. According to the World Health Organization's manual on standard examinations and diagnoses for infertile couples, the clinical standard for infertility is defined as one year. However, currently, we think that individuals who have had regular sexual activity without contraception and have not conceived for over a year should be advised to visit a specialized hospital and consult the gynecology or traditional Chinese medicine departments to investigate the causes of infertility.

Other Voices

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Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
58sec home-news-image

When to go for infertility check-ups?

The timing of infertility examinations cannot be generalized and should be determined based on the specific test and gender. For males, the primary tests include semen analysis and sperm morphology exams. These require the male to abstain from ejaculation for 2-7 days because if the abstinence period is too short, less than 48 hours, both sperm quality and semen volume may be low, which does not reflect the true level. Conversely, if the abstinence exceeds seven days, it can also affect the results of the test. For females, if undergoing a six-item hormone test, it is best conducted during days 2-5 of the menstrual cycle. For a fallopian tube patency test, it is safer to conduct it between days 3-7 after the menstrual period has ended. The exact timing of these tests should be advised by the attending physician.

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Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
1min 28sec home-news-image

The seven items of infertility are as follows:

In the examination items for infertility, the seven-item infertility tests are often mentioned. These seven tests include: anti-sperm antibody test, anti-endometrial antibody test, anti-zona pellucida antibody test, anti-trophoblast antibody test, anti-chorionic gonadotropin antibody test, anti-zinc ion antibody test, and anti-ovarian antibody test. Each of these tests targets different conditions. The anti-sperm antibody test and anti-endometrial antibody test are mainly used for the auxiliary diagnosis of immunological infertility. The anti-trophoblast antibody test is mainly used for diagnosing recurrent miscarriage. The anti-chorionic antibody test is primarily for the diagnostic examination of threatened miscarriage. The anti-zona pellucida antibody test is used mainly for the auxiliary diagnosis of premature ovarian failure. The anti-ovarian antibody test is used for conditions such as premature ovarian failure, infertility, menstrual disorders, etc. The anti-chorionic antibody test plays a role in the diagnosis of threatened miscarriage, and the anti-zinc ion antibody test is used for recurrent miscarriage and stillbirth and other related diseases.

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Written by Zhao Min Ying
Reproductive Medicine
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How is infertility defined?

If a couple is under 35 years old, cohabiting, having regular sexual intercourse, and has not used any contraception for over a year, the woman is diagnosed with infertility and the man with male infertility. For couples over 35 years old, cohabiting, having regular sexual intercourse, and not using any contraception for over half a year, the woman is diagnosed with infertility. After a diagnosis of infertility or sterility, it is necessary to visit a local reproductive center for further infertility-related examinations, including semen analysis for the man, ovulation monitoring for the woman, endocrine tests, and fallopian tube examinations, among others.

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Written by Gan Hai Ying
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Why does premature ovarian failure cause infertility?

The primary reason that premature ovarian failure leads to infertility is due to the decline in ovarian function it causes. Reduced ovarian function results in insufficient secretion of estrogen levels within the body. Consequently, the follicles on the ovaries do not develop and mature, and without mature egg cells, the sperm and egg cannot meet, which leads to infertility. Additionally, women with premature ovarian failure experience low hormone levels that prevent changes in the uterine lining, making it unsuitable for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterine cavity, which also causes infertility. Premature ovarian failure in women often leads to infertility. Therefore, it is difficult for women with this condition to conceive. If childbearing is desired, after treatment to regulate menstruation, it may be necessary to use assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization to achieve pregnancy.

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Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
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Can you have sexual intercourse before infertility examination?

There are many types of examinations for infertility. If the examination is for male infertility, such as a semen analysis, it is recommended not to have sexual intercourse three days prior to the test. For females, if the examinations involve blood tests or a gynecological ultrasound, intercourse is permissible. However, if the examination includes a routine vaginal discharge test, it is advised not to have sexual intercourse for at least three days beforehand. More stringent timing is required for examinations like hysteroscopy or a fallopian tube radiography. The principle here is to conduct these tests three to seven days after menstruation has ended, in order to complete the fallopian tube radiography and hysteroscopy effectively.